Old Road, Lour

Explorer Tom Dawyck's trees get the grand entrance, but its visitor centre near Stobo deserves a little trumpet blast of its own. Here, eight miles from Peebles, you can arrive from the B712, sort out your garden visit and discover that even a roof can join the botanical collection: this one wears a carpet of sedum. I suspect it is quietly trying to grow roots into the car park. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh opened this centre in 2008, fitting it with a shop, café and studio for exhibitions and films. A wood-fuel boiler provides heating and hot water; a solar skylight, heat-retaining glass and planted roof are part of the building's environmental design. That makes it a proper stopping place, not merely a desk placed between you and the trees. The café looks out towards the garden and woodland, an excellent arrangement for anyone who wishes lunch to include a little leaf-counting. From the centre you enter Dawyck Botanic Garden, known for its remarkable tree collection in the Scottish Borders. The studio sometimes shows environmental exhibitions, and the shop offers books, gifts and plants. Accessible toilets are inside, and the operator describes step-free access through the centre. Outdoor paths vary, so ask staff which route suits you before setting off; the trees will wait while you make a sensible plan. The garden normally welcomes visitors from February through November, with admission charged for adults; check its current opening details before travelling. If fierce weather closes the grounds, the operator says the visitor centre and café may remain open. Come for the trees, certainly, but spare a glance for the ingenious building that ushers you into their company.